RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Data about iodine status in pregnant women in Turkey is not sufficient. We aimed to determine the iodine status, goiter prevalence, iodized salt consumption among first trimester pregnant women living in Edirne. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study was performed on pregnant women living in Edirne. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 275 pregnant women in their first trimester were examined regarding iodized salt use, median urinary iodine concentration (UIC), presence or absence of goitre and thyroid function. Goitre status was determined by palpation. Participants filled out a questionnaire, which included questions regarding sociodemographic features, iodized salt consumption, knowledge, and behavior regarding iodine deficiency. UIC was measured using colorimetric method based on Sandell-Kolthoff reaction. Thyroid hormones and TSH were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassays. RESULTS: While the proportion of iodized salt use was 96.6%, UIC was below 150 µg/L in 88.4 % of the women. The median UIC was 77 µg/L, indicating insufficient iodine intake. Total goitre rate was 19.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that iodine deficiency is a serious problem among pregnant women in Edirne. We suggest that pregnant women living in Edirne should be supplemented by iodine-containing preparations in addition to iodized salt.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Smoking is a worldwide health problem. This study was designed to evaluate the current status and to examine some potential factors affecting smoking among adolescents. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community based study. SUBJECTS: Of all middle and high school students in Edirne, Turkey, 883 (6.83%) were randomly sampled. Mean age of the subjects was 15.0 +/- 1.8 years. METHOD: A self-applied questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, smoking status, school success, nutritional behaviour and self-esteem. The influence of different factors on smoking was evaluated with a logistic regression model. RESULTS: There were 89 active smokers (11.1%) with the critical age of 15 years for smoking commitment. 609 students (71.9%) were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. Nutritional behaviour rich in vegetables (OR = 0.813), high school success (OR = 0.807), longer time reserved for homework (OR = 0.718) and eating breakfast (OR= 0.353) were significantly associated with a lower smoking rate. Having a mother, who smoked (OR = 2.155), increasing age (OR = 1.704), increasing number of siblings (OR = 1.351) and eating fast food (OR = 1.150) were associated with significantly higher smoking rates. CONCLUSION: An educational programme aimed at changing behaviour and attitude to tobacco smoking and including nutritional counselling with high emphasis on the transition age from early to late adolescence may be a successful primary prevention. In addition projects designed to improve school performance may lead to a reduction in smoking rates while providing an investment in the future of the teenagers.